Sarah Catherine Phillips, M.P.A.

Sarah Phillips brings a background in legislative relations, policy strategy and analysis, and coalition-building to her role with the Mental Health Program, where she leads a team advancing behavioral health parity, payment for youth mental health services, mental health for older adults, and decriminalization of mental illness and substance use disorders. Previously, Phillips served as the director of policy strategies at Georgia Health Initiative, monitoring the policy environment to design and implement strategies to promote health equity in Georgia. As senior manager of policy and advocacy at Georgia Watch, Phillips identified the needs and disparate impacts affecting historically marginalized populations and guided the development and implementation of equitable policies to combat these disparities. In addition, she worked at the Georgia State Capitol, conducting policy research and legislative analysis. Phillips graduated with honors from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy, and a master’s degree in public administration, with a concentration in policy analysis and program evaluation.